Sturridge, Allen and Stevie fitness latest

Liverpool's assistant manager Colin Pascoe has explained how the Reds will look to welcome back a host of injured stars over the coming weeks.

Pascoe briefed reporters at Melwood on Friday afternoon ahead of Oldham Athletic's visit to Anfield in the FA Cup third round on Sunday.

The Welshman offered an update on Steven Gerrard's progress, as the skipper continues to recover from a hamstring problem he sustained in early December.

Pascoe also hinted that Daniel Sturridge could return within 10 days following an ankle injury and that Joe Allen could be back in action within a fortnight.

On Sturridge, Pascoe said: "He's out there training and continuing his rehab. He's looking good, but we've just got to assess it day-by-day and hopefully it won't be too long.

"Daniel will hopefully be back within a week or 10 days, Joe Allen within 10 days or a fortnight. There's Jon Flanagan as well. They'll all be coming back.

"You will get injuries at any club, but unfortunately for ourselves, we've had a couple close together. Daniel has been out, Stevie's been out. But we've played well. It's not a big squad, but sometimes when you get a tight squad together, you work hard.

"That's showing with results and it's great that Stevie has come back now. Daniel will be back soon. Jon Flanagan has been playing so well, it was unfortunate he got injured.

"So it will be three or four players, hopefully, in the next week or 10 days that come back."

Liverpool's skipper, Gerrard, took to the field to play his first minutes since early December when he replaced Iago Aspas in the 62nd minute of his side's 2-0 win over Hull City on New Year's Day.

The 33-year-old had picked up a hamstring problem during the win over West Ham United a month earlier - and Pascoe explained how the England captain's fitness continues to improve.

"Steven's raring to go," he said. "He's trained well. He had just less than half an hour the other day and he'll be available as well. We're pleased that Steven has come back and he's raring to go."